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Church Leaders Condemn Settler Attacks in West Bank Village
Confirmed
In Short: The leaders described the incident as a 'heinous attack' and warned that it forms part of a wider pattern of settler violence against Palestinian villages in the West Bank, particularly during the olive harvest.
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem (PHCJ) issued a statement following attacks in and around Taybeh on October 16th and 17th, during the annual olive harvest.
According to media reports, an American photographer was injured on October 16th while documenting Palestinian olive harvesters near Taybeh and was taken to hospital for treatment.
The church leaders said, 'This wild attack on the Christian village of Taybeh and against its peaceful population is not an isolated incident.'
Bernard Baudoux, mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in northern France, told Reuters he had been harvesting olives near Taybeh in solidarity with the local community when he was 'violently attacked.'
The statement condemned the 'heinous attack' carried out on October 17th by 'masked settlers' in Taybeh against local residents and foreign guests, including diplomats and officials from European countries.
The leaders urged the competent authorities to bring those responsible to justice and called for the international community to intensify efforts to ensure the protection of the people of Taybeh and the West Bank.
The church leaders also expressed concern over a recently published religious ruling that purportedly permits Jews to take olives belonging to Palestinians.
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem warned that Palestinian communities have faced widespread attacks in recent weeks, threatening families who depend on the olive harvest for their livelihoods.
The leaders described the incident as a 'heinous attack' and warned that it forms part of a wider pattern of settler violence against Palestinian villages in the West Bank, particularly during the olive harvest.
The statement also condemned a religious ruling from Rabbi Dov Lior, a leading figure in the religious Zionism and settler movements, that said Jews had the right to steal olives from Palestinian orchards in the West Bank.
What this adds
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem have previously condemned similar attacks, warning that they form part of a wider pattern of settler violence against Palestinian villages during the olive harvest.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee attended a settler conference on the same day that US diplomats visited Taybeh following the latest attack.
Background
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem condemned the attack on Taybeh, calling it a 'heinous attack' and warning that it forms part of a wider pattern of settler violence against Palestinian villages during the olive harvest.
What's confirmed
- The patriarchs and heads of Churches in Jerusalem have issued a statement firmly condemning the “heinous attack” carried out on Saturday, October 17, by “masked settlers” in the Christian village of Taybeh.
- (OSV News) — Christian leaders in the Holy Land condemned the latest attack by Israeli settlers in the West Bank against Palestinians and European diplomats during an annual olive harvest.
- “Unfortunately, the facts on the ground show that these attacks continue because of the impunity enjoyed by those who commit them,” the statement said.
What's still developing
- Huckabee is a Christian Zionist, an ideology that the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem previously described as “damaging.” If you liked this article, please support Antiwar.com.
- Huckabee has condemned certain settler attacks but has defended the settler movement as a whole and maintains that Jews have a God-given right to Palestinian land.
- Following the latest attack, US diplomats visited Taybeh, but US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee attended a settler conference that same day.
Sources
- Aid to the Church in Needlink
- Antiwar.comlink
- Catholic Church in England and Waleslink
- Catholic Reviewlink
- Ewtnnewslink
- OSV Newslink
- Orthodox Timeslink
- The Catholic Heraldlink
- Vaticannewslink
- Ncronlinelink
- OSV Newslink
- Cruxnowlink
- Detroitcatholiclink
- WarpBeat — background on EU Condemns Israeli Settler Attacks on Palestinian Christian Village link